Kramer Enters Digital Signage Market By Taking Over ComQi’s Hardware Department
Kramer Electronics has announced what is being called a “license agreement” with ComQi.
What does it mean? Well, I spoke with Sharon Sonesh, the product and marketing communications manager just a few minutes ago, and she told me that Kramer is basically taking over the manufacturing of all of ComQi’s hardware and now ComQi will focus only on software.
How much money did Kramer pay for this?
Nothing, sort of. No money was exchanged up-front as Kramer will pay a commission to ComQi for every ComQi product sold — so ComQi will make money as long as Kramer keeps selling the gear. However, according to Sonesh, Kramer is not limited to only using ComQi software. In addition, ComQi can, in fact, license its software to other digital signage media player manufacturers too.
Kramer, as you know, is a manufacturer of audio, video and computer signal management products, while ComQi (formed from the merger of Minicom Digital Signage and EnQii) is — or was — a digital signage player and software company.
The agreement provides Kramer with exclusive manufacturing, sales and marketing rights for ComQi’s (Minicom Digital Signage) Media Distribution products and ComQi will market Kramer’s entire product line to its customer base — aligning them closely in a marketing deal.
“We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with ComQi, to manufacture, sell and market the Minicom Digital Signage products,” Kramer’s President and Chairman Dr. Joseph Kramer said. “This agreement demonstrates Kramer’s commitment to provide the best digital signage solutions currently available, and enables us to focus on developing our portfolio with the next generation products.”
“We are excited about this partnership with Kramer,” said Ajay Chowdhury, ComQi’s CEO. “It will increase the reach for our hardware products through Kramer’s global sales force and also allow us to sell all of Kramer’s extensive product line into our customer base. We believe this will provide customers with one of the best integrated digital signage solutions available.”
For more information about Kramer Electronics, go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com
For more information about ComQi please go to http://www.comqi.com